Shailesh D. VoraTechnology Manager, Fuel CellsNational Energy Technology LaboratoryApril 29, 2019
U.S. DOE Office of Fossil EnergySolid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Program
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SOFC Program Mission
To enable the generation of efficient, low-cost electricity with intrinsic carbon capture capabilities for:
Near term: Natural gas-based distributed generation
Long term: Coal and natural gas utility-scale applications with Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS)
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KEY TECHNOLOGIESTECHNOLOGY AREA
SOFC Program Structure Key Technologies
SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELLS
Core Technology
Systems Development
Cell Development
Figure courtesy FuelCell Energy
Figure courtesy LG Fuel Cell Systems
Figure courtesy NETL
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Applied Research• Cell and Core Technologies• TRL 2 – 5• Collaboration with an SOFC Developer (industry) encouraged
Development• State-of-the-Art systems development• Innovative Concepts• TRL 5 – 6
SOFC ProgramR&D Approach
The SOFC Program is focused on the design, scale-up, and integration of the SOFC technolog y into modules and systems, and the development and testing of progressively larger stacks/systems.
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SOFC Program Project PortfolioFY19 Participants
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SOFC Program MetricsMetric Current 2020 Target 2025/2030 Target
System Cost (100 kW- 1MW) >$12,000/kWe $6,000/kWe $900/kWe
Single Cell Degradation 0.2 - 0.5% per 1,000 hrs
Cell Manufacturing Approach Batch Semi- Continuous Continuous
System Degradation 1 – 1.5% per 1,000 hrs 0.5 - 1.0% per 1,000 hrs <0.2% per 1,000 hrs
Fuel Reformation Primarily external natural gas conditioning/reforming
100% integrated natural gas reformation inside cell stack
Durability <2,000 hrs 5,000 hrs 5 years
Platform Proof-of-Concept Prototype/Pilot DG: CommercialUtility-scale: Pilot
Configuration Breadboard/Integrated systems Fully packaged Fully packaged
Fuel Natural gas Natural gasSimulated syngas
Natural gasCoal-derived syngas
Demonstration Scale 50 kWe – 200 kWe 200 kWe – 1 MWe DG: MWe-classUtility-scale: 10 – 50 MWe
Single-cell performance and degradation are acceptable; stack and system performance, reliability and endurance need to be demonstrated
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SOFC ProgramR&D Gaps
Technology Topic
CellsManufacturing/QC
Chemical Instability
Stacks
Manufacturing/QC
Contacts
Seals
Systems
Degradation
Reliability
System integration
Balance-of-Plant
Operations
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2015 2020 2025 2030
200 kWe Prototype Tests
50 MWe Utility-Scale Pilot(s)
10 MWe Pilot(s)
Commercial DG Systems1 MWe Prototype Tests
50 kWe POC 200 kWe POC
CELL AND CORE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT• Cell power enhancement & reliability• Modeling & systems analysis
• Surpasses SOA performance, cost, and reliability• Novel cell & stack architecture
• Advanced manufacturing• TRL 4-6
INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS
• Natural gas• Fully integrated system
• TRL 6• Two awarded
• Thermally self-sustaining• Fully integrated system
• TRL 6• COMPLETED
• Thermally self-sustaining• Natural gas
• TRL 6• COMPLETED
SOFC Program Development Timeline
• Natural gas• TRL 6
• Natural gas• CCS capable
• TRL 7-9• Privately funded
• IGFC/NGFC slipstream• CCS
• TRL 6
• First-of-a-kind• CCS
• TRL 7-9
• Innovative stack design(s) & balance-of-plant• Evaluation of cell/system operation on syngas
• TRL 2-5
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SOFC R&D at NETL
Systems Engineering and Analysis
Cell and Stack Degradation Modeling Electrode Engineering
• Development of comprehensive predictive modeling tool
• Atoms to system scale bridging• Validated through experiment
• Mitigation of prominent degradation modes
• Successful transfer of technology to industry
• Public dissemination of SOFC market potential, performance, and cost advantages
• Hybrid configuration assessment
• Tie to R&D goals and objectives
High Temp Optical Sensors
• Multi-application technology under development for high temperature sensing
• Demonstrated in SOFC • In-situ sensing of
temperature distribution and gas composition
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SOFC R&D at PNNL
Small-Scale SOFC Test PlatformMaterials Modeling
• Quantitative understanding of Cr poisoning
• Validation of Cr capture materials• Enhanced reliability of cathode/contact
material interfaces• Cobalt-free protective coatings for
metallic interconnects
• Advanced Reduced Order Models (ROM) for accurate simulation of stack performance in system models
• Modeling to mitigate stack degradation and increase reliability
• Designed and fabricated SOFC test platform (1-10 kW)
• Used for evaluation of performance and reliability of emerging stack technologies
• First technology to be tested: Ceres Power stack module (~4 kW)
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SOFC Power System FuelCell Energy 200 kW Prototype Field-Test
Photo courtesy FuelCell Energy
200 kWe integrated SOFC Power System Test site: NRG Energy Center
Pittsburgh, PA Natural gas fuel, Grid Connected Target operating time: 5,000 hrs
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SOFC Power SystemLG Fuel Cell Systems 250 kW Prototype Testing
Photo courtesy LG Fuel Cell Systems
250 kW integrated SOFC Power System Test site: Stark State College
North Canton, OH Natural gas fuel, grid connected 1,300 hrs on load Efficiency: 55% AC Power degradation: 0.3% per 1000 hrs
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2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2017 2018 2019
SOFC ProgramFunding History
Ann
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Program now emphasizing the resolution of design, operation, and performance considerations at the system level
Acquiring fabricating and operational experience on integrated, prototype field tests based on state-of-the-art cell and stack technology
Cell Development and Core Technology research continues and is well aligned with industry need
SOFC ProgramKey Takeaways
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For Additional InformationOffice of Fossil Energy: www.energy.gov/fe/office-fossil-energyNETL Website: www.netl.doe.gov/SOFC Program website: www.netl.doe.gov/coal/research/energy-systems/fuel-cellsReference Shelf:
- SOFC Program Project Portfolio- SOFC Technology Program Plan- Technology Readiness Assessment- Past Workshop Proceedings- Systems Analysis- Fuel Cell Handbook
Dr. Shailesh D. VoraTechnology Manager, Fuel Cells National Energy Technology LaboratoryU. S. Department of [email protected]